There's a way cooler version of the tiny $80 Super Nintendo - but you won't be able to buy it in the US

Ben GilbertJun 27, 2017, 01:12 IST

Europe's already full of gorgeous old buildings, the world's finest art, and millions of beautiful people. Does it deserve a better looking Super Nintendo as well?

In September, Europe's getting the much cooler-looking version of Nintendo's new $80, miniature Super Nintendo - the Super NES Classic Edition. Just look at this thing:

Nintendo

Super fresh, right? Agreed.

Nintendo announced the Super NES Classic Edition on Monday morning; there are two near-identical versions coming to North America and Europe on September 29. The one big difference? Appearance.

The European version of the Super NES Classic Edition has the quartet of early-'90s Nintendo symbols (the green/blue/yellow/red icon in the upper right corner). It's got the adorable little 1 and 2 next to each controller port. It's got the power switch, and the massive eject button. It's got the retro-futuristic vibe of a device ripped from "Blade Runner."

But in the United States? We get the rectangular box we all grew to know and love:

Nintendo

I grew up with the Super Nintendo model seen above.

It was slightly larger, and it took cartridges - the Super NES Classic Edition is small enough to fit into a palm, and only plays the games that are built into it (no cartridges) - but it was basically what you see above. And, like many of you, I loved my SNES.

But also, as a long-time Nintendo fan, I saw the European model of the SNES and was insanely jealous. That jealousy extends to the European version of the Super NES Classic Edition. Even the box looks better!

Nintendo

When the console does arrive in September, it'll come with the same 21 games in both North America and Europe. Here they are: